Ninkasi Brewing Co. will have plenty of wall space to display its growing collection of beer competition medals and other accolades when its expanded Eugene headquarters opens in the coming months. Good thing, because the honors keep coming. The latest is a 2014 Good Food Award, bestowed Jan. 15 at a gala event in San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts.

In its fourth year, Seedling Projects’ Good Food Awards program recognizes producers from across the country that exhibit a commitment to flavorful, sustainable, mindfully crafted food and drink.

For 2014, 225 judges evaluated 1,450 entries from all 50 states in a full day of blind tasting. Those that rose to the top — in the categories of beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, coffee, confections, oils, pickles, preserves and spirits — then were vetted to verify they met the sustainability and social responsibility criteria at the heart of the Good Food Awards.

Ninkasi, honored for its Believer Double Red ale, was among 130 winners from 32 states celebrated onstage by industry luminaries including Alice Waters, Ruth Reichl and Nell Newman.

“We were impressed to learn about Ninkasi’s sustainability efforts — from solar panels to sourcing nearly all of the hops it uses from the Pacific Northwest — as well as a deep philanthropic engagement in Ninkasi’s community,” said Sarah Weiner, executive director for Seedling Projects, according to a statement released by Ninkasi.

Deschutes Brewery of Bend was the only other Oregon brewery recognized, for its Black Butte Porter.

Joel Gorthy has edited and written for The Register-Guard's quarterly Tastings section since its inception in 2003. With a passion for discovering new taste experiences, here he shares news and insights relating to fine food and drink in Eugene-Springfield, Lane County and beyond. Follow him on Twitter @JGorthyRG.